“How fast can we do that?” Pell nuzzled the back of her neck.
At the attention he gave her over sensitized skin, she shuddered. “We can arrange it soon, but it will mean you will become Mersennian citizens.”
“We were not planning on returning anyway.” Markov took a deep breath.
Once they renounced their Earthling citizenship, there would never be the possibility of them returning to their planet. “But they still won’t let you fly without me.” She swallowed. “I ruined your careers.”
“We still work with the space program.” Markov took her hand and put it in between his and Pell’s. “I think we need to be together no matter where we are.”
“Baby, after what I saw, I think I could live with the three of us on the ground just fine.” Pell’s breath brushed against her.
“So it is decided.” Markov nodded.
At the relief of their words, she shut her eyes. Finally, she knew what she missed in her simulation with her anthromorphs. Not only their tastes and their smells, but the fact she couldn’t program their hearts. She took her turn to kiss each one of them and settled back down in her new, perfect spot.
“Well, one thing is for certain, our little Tre goes after what she wants.” Markov raised his eyebrows. “We will have to watch you. You never let up until you won your Earthlings.”
A sick twinge ratted her heart. His statement rang all too familiar. “Well, after our bonding ceremony, you won’t be Earthlings anymore.”
“Yeah, we would be aliens on our own planet.” Pell chuckled. “No matter what they call us, everyone will know our origins. You will be the only female to bring back and capture two of us. One day, I bet you have this whole planet doing your bidding.” He gave her a playful poke.
She jumped and sat up. Is this what they really thought? Why not? Everything was true.
“Maybe she should go into politics like her mother. I didn’t even know I wanted you until she told me.” Markov pulled her down.
“I know what I want right now.” Pell propped himself up on his elbow. “That would be the two of you.”
With both of them staring down at her she glanced between them. Yes, she wanted them to want each other, but she didn’t want to force them.
“I think you and I are in agreement.” A grin took over Markov’s face and he ran his finger down between her breasts. “But maybe we need to ask Tre.”
Pell slipped his hand between her thighs. “Trevini, do we or do we not want to make love to you again? It won’t do us any good to go against your wishes.”
“I want you to do what you want to do.” Her voice came out barely a whisper.
“You own us, remember?” Markov stared into her face. “You tell us.”
Once again she looked between them, her beautiful Earthlings. No. She balled her hand in a fist. Her beautiful life mates. All they wanted to do was make her happy, do her bidding. They would even be with each other for her, and that wasn’t what she wanted or what they truly wanted.
She heard similar words before, right before disaster. Here is where the program didn’t falter and gave her the answer she sought. Maybe she just didn’t want an answer.
“I’ll always want you.” She might always want them, but she needed to let them go.
Chapter Nine
“Your posture is making me want to regurgitate my mid-day meal.” Trevini’s rais swiped his sword and his steel hit hers.
The sound of defeat echoed through her family’s recreation area. “It’s not right. The balance is off.” Her real sword came from his personal collection he possessed before coming to Mersenne. It was now lost among the rubble of her ship and her life.
“Oh, so that’s it. I think I may be able to help.” He held up a finger and left the room.
She stared down at the floor. Before the argument, before her trip, she had been teaching both her males the art of swordplay. Six days ago she bonded for the first time and five days ago she snuck away, left only a message relayed by a much less humanoid machine to tell them why.
“Let’s see if this one is more to your liking.” Her rais held out her sword to her.
At the sight of her beloved weapon, her heart seized. “How did you get this?”
“When they were going through the wreckage they found it. I cleaned it and sharpened it.” He placed it in her hand. “Don’t tell me you don’t always get everything you want no matter what.”
For the first time the steel weighed her down and she lowered her head, wincing at his words. What was once a symbol of her strength, the way she stood out among the other Mersennian females, now became the physical representation of her selfish acts, all beginning with trying to ground two Earthlings who needed to fly.
“Vivi, are you finally going to tell me?” He closed the distance between them and like when she was young, put his hand on her head.
Only her rais and Markov shortened her name. Mersennians were too formal and Pell still called her a human infant. “You always taught me to be independent and fight for want I wanted.”
“And you turned out even more grand than I ever imagined.” He hooked his fingers under her chin and tilted her face up.
She shook her head.
“Are you telling me I’m wrong?” The corners of his eyes lifted as with any time he teased her.
“Yes.” In keeping with what he taught her, she looked him squarely in the eye.
He stayed quiet waiting for her to explain.
“I have been selfish. I have not appreciated what I have. I wouldn’t allow them to go with me on my last mission because I didn’t want them to long for their home. Now I am not allowed to go up at all, and I ruined their lives.” Rather than alleviating the ache in her heart with the truth, the sick sensation only increased. “I wanted them and I took them and now I’ve trapped them.”
Any signs of amusement faded from his face.
“I didn’t follow with your bloodline by appreciating my good fortune and being humble, and I certainly didn’t keep with my Mersennian side in being selfless in my actions.” Though most Mersennian woman would glance away with her admission, she continued to stare at her rais for answers.
“If that is how you acted then I understand why you are here and not with them. Did they refuse to make your bond official?”
Her lower lip quivered at how they both seemed more than enthusiastic for the ceremony, even after she dropped the news about flying. “No, I am here because I don’t want them to be with me because I gave them no other choice.”
“Well, I don’t need to ask if you care for them, you wouldn’t be here otherwise.” He raised his eyebrows.
“I do. No one understands me the way they do. No other males have ever allowed me to truly be myself.” She wrinkled her nose. “At the beginning I admit I wanted them because of how unique and beautiful they are.”
A chuckle escaped her rais’s throat. “There was once two others taken in by a unique being, for a long time they had guilt because part of them didn’t want to know if they wanted to possess the being or be with the being.”
No doubt her rais spoke of her mother and other father.
“I think we all want something unique and beautiful, but wanting and earning are two different things entirely, just as is caring and controlling.” He pulled her in for a hug. “I taught you to fight, but you need to make sure you choose your battle wisely.”
As when she was younger, she closed her eyes and breathed in. The scent of freshly washed clothes followed him, his energy vibrated through her, but she longed for the other arms around her, the scent of mystery and of the forbidden and of freedom that clung to Markov and Pell.
Freedom.
“I need to go fight.” She didn’t deserve them, but they deserved the best. For with them she was free, and she needed to make sure they were as well.
Chapter Ten
Trevini stopped outside the main office building to the Mersennian Space Administration and adjusted her s
hirt and her skirt, then her shirt again.
“Stop pulling at your clothes, you look lovely.” Her mena swiped her hand away.
She glanced down at the more traditional long wrap skirt and matching shirt that most Mersennian woman wore to more formal functions. The uniform she preferred was no longer an option and as she had been taught her whole life, if she wanted a chance to win, she had to start by playing by the opponent’s rules.
“Let’s go in.” Her mother raised her head and gave but a glance behind her.
Both her rais and bram rushed to the doors, holding them open.
“Thank you.” Her mother touched each of her partner’s cheeks before entering, a small sign of appreciation, an acknowledgement for them taking care of her, something Trevini forgot along the way.
Even with her mother’s connections it took two days to get the meeting.
Her fathers took care of checking them in and guiding them down the corridor to the Director’s office. She watched how they stood next to each other, the light touches they gave the other on the back, and the way they worked in unison. Markov and Pell were thrown together by circumstance. They didn’t truly want each other as much as they wanted to make her happy.
More than ever she knew she made the right decision in coming here.
They entered the office. Two males sat behind a long desk both wearing the uniforms of the space administration. The one with dark blue hair motioned for them to come forward, the other pointed to his monitor. “Trevini Savita-Kerr, please come forward.”
She rarely heard her full given name. Had she taken the Earthlings as life mates, her name would have changed to Trevini Gauss-Perrin. Though her heart raced and she wanted to run up there, she slowly approached the desk in an attempt to fit in with the other females of her planet.
“You are coming here to appeal the decision to revoke your space travel licensing?” He turned to her.
No sooner did she open her mouth than the one with blue hair spoke. “Your request is denied. You pose too much of a risk.”
She straightened up and put her hands on her hips. “Are you going to disregard all of my successful missions?” How dare they simply dismiss her like any atmosphere bound novice?
The male stood as well. “We have read the reports. Your mistake was one of an amateur. The record shows you were in an anthromorph simulation for the entire duration of the trip. We cannot tolerate such grievous errors born of distraction and selfishness.”
The word hit her. Actually, it threatened to knock her out. Even coming here for someone else, the males she cared about more than anything, she defaulted back to herself. “Sir.”
“We will not be reexamining your license. I know your family and that is the only reason we even entertained this meeting. The administration has already made enough exceptions for you.”
She glanced behind her. Her mena and bram both nodded. Her rais tilted his head, his words about fighting replaying in her mind. With conviction she turned back. “Then in light of my already selfish behavior and using my family as leverage to get an audience with you, I would like to ask for one more exception.”
Silence took over the room and she continued. “I would like to ask for an exception not for me, but for the Earthlings, Markov Gauss and Pell Perrin.”
The blue haired one resumed his seat. “What about them?”
“Mersennian law prohibits them from flying. I am asking in their case of an exception to be made. Both males are talented and experienced in the space program back on their home planet and would be of great service.” She took a breath. “Space travel is a calling. You trained to prepare to die at any moment, but only one small mistake can cost you an eternity. Still, those who fly have no other option, that is what their soul wants. They both belong in the skies. Trying to ground them is cruel, and we would be missing out on a great opportunity.”
The directors leaned to each other, whispered something and turned back to her. “The notes indicate the Earthlings are your life mates.”
She wrapped her arms around her shoulders. “An unfortunate assumption was made during my crash landing. They are not accustomed or suited for a triad relationship.”
“Interesting.” The green haired one strummed his fingers on the desk. “So you only ask for their licenses to be granted, you want nothing more?”
“There is one more item.” She wiped her forehead and stepped closer. “If the licenses cannot be issued, I ask for them to be given the option to live on a planet more suited for their lifestyle.” Tears clouded her vision.
“We need to discuss the ramifications privately and will come to our decision.” Both directors stood and left the room.
She held her breath. If nothing else, she could give her males back their lives they gave to her. They weren’t hers any longer.
Chapter Eleven
“Here I go again.” Trevini took in her new interplanetary ship. Tall, grand and shining silver with the pink and purple symbol of Mersenne painted on the signs, her ride was a new model capable of faster speeds and longer trips.
Even without wanting or trying, she earned her wings back. After her plea to the space administration, they took pity on her, decided they needed a female in her capacity, and allowed her to go on a delivery mission.
Following the protocol for boarding a ship, she put on her helmet and entered the lift chamber.
Almost as much as she wanted her males, she wanted to leave the planet and travel into the black sky.
In the two weeks since she left, she hadn’t heard from either of the males she wished would have been her life mates. Of course she told them not to contact her, told them it was over and walked away.
Their avoidance told her everything she needed to know.
Last she heard, they were being trained for larger crew missions. At least they would be able to do what they wanted. Maybe she should have taken an assignment on another planet.
The lift stopped and she entered the sub chamber. She paused, closed her eyes collected her thoughts, and unfastened the latches on her helmet. The last time she entered a ship, she was fully immersed in the scenario with her anthromachines, poor excuses for the males who stole her heart.
Not wanting to delay the schedule, she opened the hatch door.
A set of hands dragged her inside and another pulled her headgear off.
“Hey!” Instinct took over and she pulled her sword out of its sheath ready to slice any intruder into little pieces.
“What took you so long?” Markov shrugged her weapon away and his eyes darkened.
Her heart and her breath caught. No matter what galaxy she ever traveled to there would never be a more beautiful being.
“Take off is in thirty minutes.” Pell set her helmet aside and came forward, his blue eyes twinkling. “We have a lot to do.”
Wait, she took back her last thought. There was one person in the universe that matched Markov’s beauty.
She scanned the bridge. Her two new anthromorphs, or dare she say two old anthromorphs, with new shells sat at their posts in their mechanical form, humanoid in shape, but faceless and made of a new white glossy composite metal. “What are you doing here?” She returned her weapon to its holder. Though she longed to touch them, she hadn’t earned the right.
“Don’t you know what your mission is?” Markov’s tone hardened.
“I would have thought after regaining your right to fly, you would take extra care.”
“I have a delivery mission, I already checked the payload.” Fine, she checked the payload about ten times.
“Not all the way.” Pell moved closer. “We are part of that mission.”
“What?” She bit the inside of her mouth to stop any outburst, but she thought when she saw them here…
“We were told you begged for us to be taken to another planet. The space administration practically buzzed with the story.” Markov turned away.
“No, I begged for you to be allowed to be on a ship without h
aving a Mersennian life mate with you.” She turned to Pell. He only continued to stare at her. “I only asked for the other option if they wouldn’t let you travel and you didn’t want to stay.”
“They vetoed your plea to let us fly without a Mersennian life mate.” Pell reached into his pocket and pulled out a small electronic tablet.
Beyond her control her eyes filled up and two tears fell, leaving a warm wet trail of defeat down her cheeks. “You’re leaving?”
“Is that all you have to say?” Markov faced her. “At one time we both gave you our lives, and all you can ask is if we are leaving?”
“We always used to talk about me rescuing the two of you, but honestly I think it was the other way around.” Unable to look at them for fear she would fall to her knees and beg them to stay, she pushed passed them and made her way to the commander’s chair, bracing herself on the back headrest rather than sitting down. “To use an Earth term, I just want you to know that in my own way I loved both of you. From the moment I picked you up to right now. I never meant to force you to do anything, or be so selfish. I just wanted you so bad.”
“You know, I thought you were a female who always got what you wanted.” Pell came up behind her and she shivered at his closeness.
“I wanted you to be able to fly.” She shook her head. “But I didn’t want you to be trapped.”
“Who said we can’t fly?” Markov went to her side.
“You just did.” She spun on her heel toward them. “You said you were part of my mission.”
“We are part of your mission. The three of us run this ship.” A smile flashed across Markov’s face.
“We only said we couldn’t fly without a Mersennian life mate.” Pell held the tablet up. “A problem that can be remedied if our female would agree and not run out on us.”
She blinked, forcing her eyes to focus on the documents that would bind them forever. “But the last two weeks?”
“Have been horrible, but we needed to become versed in how to deal with having someone who is truly one of a kind as a life mate.” Markov came forward and took her by the hips. “You trying to help us without anything in it for you proved everything we needed. I love you, Tre, you are my dream.”
Three Times Lucky: Five Sizzling Tales of Three-Way Love Page 5